With one turn lane on and off the ramp, traffic on Bonita Beach Road backed up, especially on the eastbound lane, and interfered with traffic on Oakland Drive, said Daryl Wal, Bonita Springs public works manager. That traffic congestion is worse primarily during season from December to April, he said.

Construction is scheduled to start in June and the project is expected to be finished in early 2011, before season next year, Tower said.

Tower said she didn't have the specific start date yet.

"It should help the traffic flow in the future," Wal said.

The cost to design and build the project is $3.4 million. The contractor is Apac-Southeast Inc.

Funding will come from the former I-75 and Coconut Road earmark, Tower said.

The project will also resurface the two eastbound and two westbound through lanes and build a 4-foot concrete median separating the lanes.

The project includes a new 10-foot pathway on the north and south sides of the road and improvements to existing sidewalk.

Variable message signs will alert drivers several days in advance that work is starting.

Even though construction crews will work during the day, Tower said work involving lane closures will be done at night, or from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.